An approach is provided for generating a customized, cloud-based data collection tool for collecting data from computer resources of a target system. In an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving a request to perform a data collection from one or more target computer resources; wherein the request includes one or more requirements that are specific to the data collection; based on, at least in part, the requirements, generating a customization specification for generating a customized collector that is specific to the data collection to be performed on the target computer resources; and transmitting the customization specification to a deployment engine to cause the deployment engine to: based on, at least in part, the customization specification, generate the customized collector that is specific to the data collection to be performed on the target computer resources; and transmit the customized collector, for generating the customized collector, to a cloud storage for storing.